Sony: PlayStation 3 manufacturing costs down 70%

During a recent investor conference call, Sony corporate CEO Nobuyuki Oneda revealed that the PlayStation 3 console is now roughly 70% cheaper to make than it was at launch. Although he wouldn’t give an exact figure, estimates put manufacturing costs at around $240 – down from around $800.

If accurate, it would mean Sony is making money on each new PS3 sold at the current going rate of $400 – probably even when factoring in costs associated with marketing, licensing and other fees. Earlier rumors also suggest that the company might be getting ready to finally drop the price of hardware and launch a slimmed-down version of its console in the fall. Whether they actually pull the trigger remains to be seen, but it seems like the smart move to boost sales after a dire quarter.